Course-correction

In "Flashes Before Your Eyes" Ms. Hawking first mentions that the universe has a way of course-correcting itself, when someone in the past or present tries to change or a predestined future. She points out a man wearing red shoes to Desmond. Moments later, the man is killed by falling scaffolding. When Desmond questions why she didn't alert the man, she insists that the man was going to die despite their actions.

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Had I warned him about the scaffolding, tomorrow he'd be hit by a taxi. Had I warned him about the taxi, he'd fall in the shower and break his neck. The universe, unfortunately, has a way of course-correcting. That man was supposed to die; that was his path. Just as it's your path to go to the island. You don't do it because you choose to, Desmond. You do it because you're supposed to. -- Ms. Hawking